Sometimes astrology is scary. You might have blissfully spent all your days unaware of void-of-course moons, but once you hear about them, you’re panicky. The news about void-of-course moons does sound hopeless. Anything begun them goes nowhere. Your job interview won’t bring employment. Your visit to your mother-in-law won’t earn any goodwill. Convene a business meeting and all plans made then will fall apart later.

A void is a gap, an empty space. It suggests a state of being without. Astrologically, the moon is void when in a particular sign, she’s without connections (or “aspects”) to the other planets. These gaps occur before the moon changes sign, and can last from a few minutes, to a few hours, to a couple of days, depending on the other planets’ positions. If you ask a horary astrologer about the fate of a particular project when the moon is void, it’s presumed you likewise lack connections. Without this outer assistance, your project is likely to fail.

The logic behind this divination is more symbolic than literal. It does not presume that everyone travels the same celestial assembly line, passing through good and bad times all at once. Not all of the hundred thousand letters mailed during a void-of-course moon will fly from the postman’s hands and land in a trash dumpster. But if you begin a project on such a moon and later find your work faltering, the symbolism of the void can be helpful. Know that you’ll have to supply the extra oomph to make things happen yourself. I once left a resume at an employment office just minutes before the moon went void of course. When days passed and they didn’t call me for an interview, I called them. The woman on the other end of the phone was surprised. “I don’t know why we didn’t call you. You look like an excellent candidate. Let me set up an interview with you now.” I eventually got the job, so the void didn’t doom me.

It’s best to rest on a void moon. People often feel sleep and disconnected at this time. I find these are wonderful hours to simply drift if you can. This creates a space—into which surprising and inspired ideas can suddenly enter. Void moons are also good for doing activities that you don’t want to hear further results from. It’s said that if you mail your taxes at this time, you won’t be audited. One of my clients scheduled a medical test for a void moon, and the result was exactly what she was hoping for: negative. (She was especially relieved because a month earlier, the same test had a scary positive result.) But if you have no choice and you must schedule something important on a void moon, know that you can still be successful, especially if you’re willing to apply a little personal chutzpah. Void moon ripen your individuality and favor creative breakthroughs. This is an optimum time to cut loose from the prevailing wisdom and sneak past the cultural gates. Even a failed project can bring such brilliant learning, your future will shimmer because of it.

Being moon paranoid is silly. Good or bad moons are mostly what we make of them. A void of course moon may not signal anything at all, particularly if you stand at no brinks, ready for no action. In that case, you’ve got a perfect astrological excuse to do nothing. If you want to drift and dream, go for it on the lunar void. Stepping out of the game can be wonderful from time to time. It’s all up to you!

Visit Dana Gerhardt at Mooncircles.com

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As the Moon orbits the earth it passes through the signs of the zodiac. Every lunar month it travels through all twelve sign, passing through each sign in more than two, but less than three days. When the Moon gets near the end of each sign, it goes beyond the last major aspect, or connection, with another planet. From the time of the last major aspect until the Moon moves into the next sign of the zodiac, the Moon is said to by “Void of Course.”

The interval when the Moon is void of course might last only a few seconds or minutes of time, or it could last for a day or two. The duration depends on the location of the planets and their interactions.

The period while the Moon is void of course is a time when people can feel very “unconnected” and without direction. It is therefore, an ideal time to focus on centering or drawing attention inward. Until the Moon enters the next sign, it is wise to avoid making important decisions. Judgment at this time is probably faulty. Decisions tend to be unrealistic and/or subject to unknown factors. New paths are likely to be plagued with false starts, errors and unanticipated hassles and delays.

During Moon void of course, actions produce unexpected results. Creative efforts go in unexpected directions. Contracts, promises or new laws bring on difficulties. Purchases prove to be unsatisfactory or the object simply does not fulfill its intention. Routines involving no decisions will usually go well, but often require corrections later. Delays and frustrations are common. The period while the Moon is void of course is really a time to “kick back,” to let life flow and to avoid difficulties.

In U.S presidential campaigns, the candidates Thomas Dewey (who lost), Richard Nixon (in 1960 when he lost to John F. Kennedy), Barry Goldwater (who lost really badly) and poor George McGovern (who did not win) were all nominated while the Moon was void of course. In fact every candidate from the two major parties who was nominated for the presidency from 1900 through 1972 while the Moon was void of course was defeated.

In 1972 Richard Nixon was reelected for a second term as President. However, his fateful and doomed reelection occurred while the Moon was void of course. Nixon’s replacement, Gerald Ford, became president by succession, not election, and he was sworn in during a period when the Moon was void of course. Jimmy Carter’s second (1980) nomination occurred during the Moon void of course. And Al Gore’s 2000 nomination occurred while the Moon was void of course.

In Ontario last year, when Ernie Eves called the fall election, he did so at a time when the Moon was void of course! Ronald Regan, who was much influenced by his wife Nancy’s belief in astrology always made announcements which he considered to be unpopular when the Moon was void of course because people would be less likely to pay attention to them

The important guideline for Moon void of course periods is to not be involved in concerns beyond your spiritual center. Moon void of course is a time for subjective, spiritual, non-materialistic concerns. Don’t push the river! But if you do have to go to an important business meeting, be sure to take very careful notes!

Once the Moon enters the next sign it is no longer void of course. If the void of course period was a time off from business, giving attention to relaxation and spiritual growth, then period can more effectively go back to dealing with the affairs of the day-to-day material world.